Randy Johnson vs Christy Mathewson: Career Stats Comparison
Christy Mathewson has the better career line of the two, leading 9 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Randy Johnson played 1988–2009 as a pitcher; Christy Mathewson played 1900–1916 as a pitcher.
- ERA (Earned Run Average):
- Earned runs allowed per nine innings pitched: (ER × 9) ÷ IP. The primary measure of pitching effectiveness.
- W (Wins):
- Games credited to a pitcher whose team took a lead it never surrendered while he was the pitcher of record.
- SO (Strikeouts):
- For a batter, times retired on a third strike; for a pitcher, batters retired on a third strike.
- WHIP (Walks and Hits per Inning Pitched):
- Baserunners allowed per inning: (BB + H) ÷ IP. Under 1.00 is elite.
Data updated
Randy Johnson (1988–2009) and Christy Mathewson (1900–1916) — breaking in during the 1980s and the 1900s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Randy Johnson finished with 303 wins and 4,875 strikeouts; Christy Mathewson finished with 373 wins and 2,507 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Christy Mathewson, with 2.13 to Randy Johnson's 3.29.
- Who won more games? Christy Mathewson, with 373 to Randy Johnson's 303.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Randy Johnson, with 4,875 to Christy Mathewson's 2,507.
- Who had the better WHIP? Christy Mathewson, with 1.06 to Randy Johnson's 1.17.
- Who pitched more innings? Christy Mathewson, with 4,788.2 to Randy Johnson's 4,135.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Christy Mathewson, with 79 to Randy Johnson's 37.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Randy Johnson, with 122,530 career Pitcher PIV to Christy Mathewson's 82,446.
Randy Johnson
Christy Mathewson
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate. Cells highlighted in green mark the player who leads that line. Lower ERA, WHIP and BB/9 lead; higher K/9 leads. 12 of the 16 lines below are scored; the other 4 are counting totals on which fewer is not an achievement, so no one is awarded them. Totals where fewer is not an achievement -- losses, walks and hits allowed -- are left unmarked, because they track how long someone pitched rather than how well. Rate stats are not era-adjusted, and the 1980s and the 1900s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Randy Johnson | Christy Mathewson |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 303 | Leads: 373 |
| Losses not scored | 166 | 188 |
| Games | 618 | Leads: 636 |
| Games Started | Leads: 603 | 552 |
| Complete Games | 100 | Leads: 435 |
| Shutouts | 37 | Leads: 79 |
| Saves | 2 | Leads: 29 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 4,875 | 2,507 |
| Walks not scored | 1,497 | 848 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 3,346 | 4,219 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 411 | 90 |
| Innings Pitched | 4,135.1 | Leads: 4,788.2 |
| ERA | 3.29 | Leads: 2.13 |
| WHIP | 1.17 | Leads: 1.06 |
| K/9 | Leads: 10.61 | 4.71 |
| BB/9 | 3.26 | Leads: 1.59 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Randy Johnson outpaces Christy Mathewson 122,530 to 82,446 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 5,105 PIV per season to 4,580, across 24 seasons to 18. PIV adjusts each season to league baselines, so it's the cleanest way to compare careers across eras.
PIV is computed through the 2025 season. The career totals on this page include 2026 to date, so PIV does not yet reflect the 2026 season.
Peak Seasons
The best single seasons each player produced, ranked by ERA among qualified workloads (120+ innings).
Randy Johnson — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Christy Mathewson — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Christy Mathewson leads in wins, ERA, WHIP, and innings pitched, while Randy Johnson owns strikeouts and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Christy Mathewson. Note that PIV actually grades Randy Johnson ahead, which means Christy Mathewson's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Randy Johnson and Christy Mathewson careers compare
The two careers never overlapped: Christy Mathewson's ended in 1916, and Randy Johnson debuted in 1988. With 618 games against 636 across 24 and 18 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Randy Johnson's edges on the table are starts (603 to 552), strikeouts (4,875 to 2,507), and strikeouts per nine (10.61 to 4.71). By rate, Randy Johnson struck out 10.61 and walked 3.26 per nine innings; Christy Mathewson struck out 4.71 and walked 1.59. Both had the same role: Randy Johnson was mainly a starter (603 starts in 618 games); Christy Mathewson was mainly a starter (552 starts in 636 games).
Randy Johnson vs Christy Mathewson: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Randy Johnson or Christy Mathewson?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Christy Mathewson leads Randy Johnson in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Christy Mathewson, with 2.13 to Randy Johnson's 3.29.
- Who won more games?
- Christy Mathewson, with 373 to Randy Johnson's 303.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Randy Johnson, with 4,875 to Christy Mathewson's 2,507.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Christy Mathewson, with 1.06 to Randy Johnson's 1.17.